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#1 2008-12-31 11:02 pm
- Title27GT
- Member
- From: New York, NY
- Registered: 2007-07-10
- Posts: 338
Mighty Mouse Scroll Ball
Ah, the age-old Scroll Ball conundrum.
I bought my Wireless Mighty Mouse in July 2007. By most standards it has lasted an extraordinarily long time. I've had the occasional problem of a stuck scroll ball, but rubbing it with a cloth has generally solved every problem I've had. Suddenly, tonight, I can scroll forward but not scroll backward. I've tried using a cloth and rubbing alcohol, which I've never had to do before. Didn't work. Is my precious Miracle Mouse finally dead?
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#2 2009-01-01 6:22 am
- kamizuno
- Poking you with a stick
- From: Smileytown
- Registered: 1999-07-13
- Posts: 1987
Re: Mighty Mouse Scroll Ball
the scroll ball is the reason I stopped using my Mighty Mouse, mines got permanently gummed up in less than 7 months, it's the one great weakness that mouse has 
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#4 2009-01-01 4:15 pm
- Dunkin'
- Mom Bo'
- From: Over the hills and far away
- Registered: 1999-10-15
- Posts: 3300
Re: Mighty Mouse Scroll Ball
I use adhesive tape or a cleaner wipe to remove the grot that accumulates on the ball. A few seconds cleaning the surface of the ball usually restores functionality.
1/φ = φ-1
Dron't dink and dive.
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#5 2009-01-03 1:27 am
- Jyri Erik
- Member
- From: Greenbelt, MD
- Registered: 2001-04-21
- Posts: 2418
Re: Mighty Mouse Scroll Ball
Have you tried doing the cleaning with the mouse upside down? I had the same problem and a "normal" cleaning didn't help, but someone suggested doing it that way and the scroll ball worked again. Worth a try.
Jyri
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#6 2009-01-03 1:46 am
Re: Mighty Mouse Scroll Ball
I said this before in another thread about the MM. If the computer you are using it with has an Applecare protection plan just take it into the store or call applecare and you will get a brand new replacement. I've done it for my wired MM and than again for my wireless MM
MacBook Pro 17|2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo|4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3|320 HD @ 7200 RPM|NVIDIA GeForce 9600 M GT 512 MB
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#7 2009-01-03 12:01 pm
- macforme
- The Terror of Zombies Far & Wide
- From: Malton, Zombie Central
- Registered: 2001-08-04
- Posts: 362
Re: Mighty Mouse Scroll Ball
I thought my mouse was dead too, about 2 months ago. It lasted about 6 months or so. I used rubbing alcohol with several q-tips, scrubbing vigorously and finally got it to work. It took a lot more cleaning than I thought it would, but it finally came back. Although, now I notice I have to clean it more frequently than before.
Just soak your Q-tip in alcohol (so it's dripping), and scrub the heck out of the ball - make sure you get the Q-tip in around the ball as much as possible. I even tried to get some alcohol inside, around the ball. Replace Q-tip as needed. Then you can turn it upside down and repeat.
I searched around online, and the problem is the tiny little wheels holding the ball get gummed up pretty easily. The wheels are quite small, so it doesn't take much to gunk them up. I've thought about using electrical contact cleaner in a spray can, but I don't have any around. That should work better, I would think - as long as you don't get it on the plastic body much. I guess I would be worried about what it may do to the ball itself too.
Has anyone tried electrical contact cleaner yet?
"You are coming to a sad realization, cancel or allow?"
...sigh.. "Allow."
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#8 2009-01-03 12:09 pm
- Mr. Happypants
- Member
- Registered: 2001-11-14
- Posts: 1320
Re: Mighty Mouse Scroll Ball
Jyri Erik wrote:
Have you tried doing the cleaning with the mouse upside down? I had the same problem and a "normal" cleaning didn't help, but someone suggested doing it that way and the scroll ball worked again.
That's exactly how I clean mine at work, every few months or when needed. I don't even use alcohol, I think that will dry the rubber ball out over time. Just a damp piece of lint-free material, then dry it with the same stuff & it's good as new! Upside down seems to be the key though.
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#9 2009-01-03 12:25 pm
- dv
- Negusa Negest
- Moderator
- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18092
Re: Mighty Mouse Scroll Ball
ScifiterX wrote:
It's the one reason I never upgraded past a MS Basic Optical Mouse.
If you had a mighty mouse to begin with, I'd say the Basic Optical is an upgrade. My Intellimouse Explorer is 7 years old and still works great.
Although the ones I've bought for other computers in the meantime are sometimes a little twitchy - I think MS might be using cheaper sensors.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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